In this interview spotight, I chat with SARRA about her latest single Kerosene, motivations, challenges and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
I’m from Dallas, TX. In the simplest terms, I make pop music but it definitely leans more towards alternative and indie pop. I’m really a music lover to the core so I pull inspiration from Electronic, Pop, and R&B music when I’m creating.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay the course?
I come from a very musical family. My mother, her 3 siblings, and my grandparents were all musicians. I started performing when I was 6 years old and I started writing my own songs when I was 12. It’s definitely in my bones.
In my early twenties, I let a lot of insecurities stop me from pursuing music for a while and it’s the biggest regret of my life. I was so unhappy and even in areas of my life that brought me joy I didn’t feel whole. That’s what motivates me now. For me, creating and performing is soul cleansing. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life.
How is “Kerosene” different than previous releases you’ve been a part of? Did you set out to accomplish anything specific?
I wrote about 50 songs for this project before we settled on 14 for the album. “Kerosene” was one of those tunes where I turned a corner lyrically. I stopped being afraid and started being completely transparent in my music. For a long time, I was telling half-truths, using too many metaphors or overly flowery lyrics because I thought that’s what you were supposed to do as a writer. Once I got out of my own way and just started writing my story everything started coming together.
Do you face challenges as a musician in a digital age? How has technology helped you (assuming it helps)?
Technology has allowed independent artists to flourish without a label and I think that’s really important, but it also makes the barrier to entry nonexistent. Anybody can make music and put it out so cutting through the noise is the challenging part. Label money and connections are really important. You can definitely make a career without that but I think you have to be that much more focused and savvy when it comes to all aspects of your career – financial and creative, as an independent artist.
Where can we connect with you online and discover more music?
You can find me at sarramusik.com or anywhere on social media @sarramusik. “Kerosene” is now available on all digital platforms!
Anything else before we sign off?
I’m so happy to have this opportunity to not only share my music with people but to chat with new audiences like yours. Look for my new album SARRA coming in January. This project is really close to my heart and I’m beyond excited to share it.
